Review: Shake Shack
Opening Aug. 22, Shake Shack makes its JoCo debut at 5200 W 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209.
August 28, 2019
Walking up to Shake Shack you are greeted by a chic patio setting and their bright green logo. The restaurant’s energy is high due to the opening on August 22 making it clear customers are ready for this new location.
Shake Shack entered the Kansas City Area last September at the Country Club Plaza. The chain started in New York City and was originally a hot dog stand in Madison Square Garden and has since grown into 247 different storefronts.
Upon first walking in you are met by the giant menu on the wall which is easy to follow with food ranging from burgers, chicken and hot dogs to a variety of shakes.
The interior is modern, with the use of metal and wood, giving it a sleek feel rather than the traditional fast food layout. It is also made clear upon entering that they are customer service oriented with an outgoing and friendly staff helping to herd the crowd.
On the wall, the phrase “stand for something good” appears on a neon green light-up sign, starkly contrasting the dark neutral colors used throughout the rest of the restaurant. The green used throughout the restaurant and on their logo is used to represent their green initiative, vowing to limit their carbon footprint while producing the best quality of food.
After ordering, you take a pager and have the option to sit on one of their many tables and booths inside or at their outdoor patio. While you wait, the patio offers cornhole and giant Jenga to pass time.
In a timely manner, the food is ready and the fun begins. The signature ShackBurger is a cheeseburger that comes with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce. The burger itself was tender and rich in flavor with everything on it complementing each other. Their crinkle cut fries are crunchy but not overly crisp, creating the perfect texture. In addition, their Chick’n Bites provide a smokey taste and a light hand-breaded crust that is savory and keeps you coming back for more.
Of course, what is a Shake Shack review without trying a shake or two? Both the Cookies & Cream and Salted Caramel shakes lived up to the restaurant’s name. They are both the perfect consistency, thick but not so thick that you can’t get it up the straw without developing a headache. The salted caramel shake provided the perfect balance of salty and sweet and took the crown for the superior shake with its delectable flavor.
Shake Shacks food does, however, come at a cost with their ShackBurger being priced at $6.99 for a single and their shakes being prices at $5.19 with an additional .50 cents for whipped cream.
With the food quality, prices, customer service and layout it is clear Shake Shack tries to set itself apart from traditional fast-food restaurants. Shake Shack shows an emphasis on their production quality and people have noticed, as they have developed a cult fan following along with growing into an international chain after their humble beginnings as a hot dog cart in 2004.
Shake Shack shows no sign of stopping and with a successful opening it could soon be a staple in the Kansas City metro area food culture.
